What to expect from AWS re:Invent 2017: Agenda, venues, key themes and parties

By By Scott CareyNov 22nd 2017

The cloud computing giant Amazon Web Services is hosting its annual conference in Las Vegas, USA on November 27 to December 1. Here's what to expect from AWS re:Invent 2017

Amazon Web Services (AWS) will be rolling out key customers, executives and announcements along the world-famous strip in Las Vegas between 27 November - 1 December 2017 at one of the biggest cloud computing conferences in the world: AWS re:Invent.

Attendees can take part in hands-on sessions, certification and bootcamps to get to grips with the range of AWS cloud products. There will be keynotes and sessions through the week, feature and product announcements and customers telling their AWS stories.

This year, expect plenty of discussion around internet of things (IoT), serverless computing, containers and new security features.

Jon Topper, CTO of DevOps and infrastructure consultancy The Scale Factory expects announcements of a new security product and a managed implementation of the popular container tool Kubernetes.

"It seems likely that we'll see a new security product," he told Computerworld UK via email. "AWS employees often say that security is job zero, and that if they don't get security right, then there's no point doing anything else.

"The main gap in the AWS security product suite today is Intrusion Detection and Prevention… AWS' increased focus on machine learning could point to a new product offering in this space."

On the possible Kubernetes product he also said: "This container orchestration platform has become the de facto industry standard, and with both Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft's Azure providing support for it, this may be the first example of Amazon being behind the curve in quite some time."

Last year's event saw 32,000 attendees descend on the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, and this year the footprint has expanded drastically, with keynotes taking place all the way down along the strip to the MGM Grand, meaning logistics will be more important than ever. As a result, there will be three separate shuttle services running to help delegates get around. The campus map can be seen here.

AWS re:Invent 2017 agenda

The Monday is mostly for developers and system admins wanting to attend technical sessions and hackathons. The agenda for Tuesday is similar, with the global partner summit, deep-dives and the welcome reception at the Venetian in the evening.

After announcing voice services Lex and Polly last year there are more than 40 sessions on Alexa at the Big Echos in the ARIA, MGM and LINQ Lot spaces through the event.

The event then kicks off in earnest on Wednesday 29 November with a keynote from CEO Andy Jassy at 8:30am at the Venetian. There is a pub crawl in the evening following a day of breakouts and exploring the exhibition hall.

The Thursday keynote is presented by CTO Werner Vogels at the MGM Grand, followed by another day of breakout sessions. Then in the evening it is the re:Play Party in the LINQ hotel and casino parking lot, with details and the headline act yet to be announced. Last year's party was headlined by Dutch superstar DJ Martin Garrix.

The conference ends on Friday with breakfast and a range of technical sessions throughout the day.

There are more than 1,300 sessions scheduled through the week, and you can register for a seat here. These range across AWS products, proficiencies and industries.

There will be a free livestream of the keynotes and some sessions, with a link to be provided on the website nearer the time.

How to attend AWS re:Invent

The event is now sold out, with the website directing people to register for the live stream.

If you have a pass the reserved hotel blocks are no longer available so you are on your own in terms of accommodation. The preferred airline for AWS re:invent is Delta Air Lines, which is offering discounts using the code NMNHR in the "Meeting Event Code" when you book online.